Gun Scare At Medical Center

San Andreas, CA — Calaveras County Sheriff’s Deputies were alerted to a man reportedly with a gun in the Mark Twain Medical Center parking lot.

The call came into the dispatch just before 10 pm on Sunday. The man was identified as 51-year-old Wayne Eric Townsend of San Andreas. He is a state parolee and Sheriff’s officials say he was known to deputies.

While searching the area a deputy found Townsend at the back of the Cal Works building at the corner of Mountain Ranch Road and St. Charles Avenue. The deputy reports he ordered Townsend to show his hands and instead he turned his back to the deputy, lifted his shirt and reached into his waistband. That is when the deputy says he rushed Townsend, knocked him into a large shrub and an 11 ½-inch knife flew from his hands.

Townsend was found to be intoxicated. He was arrested and booked into the Calaveras County jail. The deputy suffered minor cuts and scrapes from the shrubbery. Sheriff’s officials say when Townsend was asked if he had planned on using the knife against the deputy, he refused to answer.

Townsend was charged with felony Assault with a Deadly Weapon (not a firearm), Carrying a Concealed Dirk/Dagger and Violation of Parole. He was also charged with Public Intoxication, Battery on a Peace Officer, and Obstructing a Peace Officer, which are all misdemeanors.